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It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!

Hi everyone! I love this thread -- and since I just started lessons myself, I figured I would join the conversation. I just got back from my second lesson. I played the two pieces I was assigned last week for my teacher and he was very impressed! Much to my delight(since i spent a lot of time on this facet), he was genuinely shocked by how dynamically accurate I played the pieces. There were lots of crescendos, accents, staccatos, etc, and I nailed just about all of them (FIST PUMP!). Needless to say, I am very encouraged after watching his reaction to my progress. Unfortunately, sight reading and quickly translating the note on the page to its appropriate key on the piano still takes a long time for me. My teacher says that will come with more practice by learning the pieces. Are there other exercises someone could suggest to help speed this up? I feel like that particular part of my learning is far behind where my overall ability is(just beginning, but i guess technique-wise I'm a little ahead of average). Thanks!

Unfortunately, sight reading and quickly translating the note on the page to its appropriate key on the piano still takes a long time for me. My teacher says that will come with more practice by learning the pieces. Are there other exercises someone could suggest to help speed this up?

There are a number of computer or smartphone based trainers to help with learning to translate notes on the staff to keys on the piano. I can't suggest smartphone options since I don't have one, but for computer based trainers I like the exercises at Teoria.com and the multiplatform computer app PrestoKeys

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Oops... extremely distracted by mandolins at the moment... brb

1. I got my first (digital) piano - allowing me to practice for the first time in years.

2. I could still make a decent effort at Chopin's Em and Bm preludes

3. My sightreading seems to have improved while I've been away - basically sight-read Bach's Prelude in C with little slowing down/wrong notes and caught myself actually reading the bar ahead of the one I'm playing, which I don't think I've ever been able to do before on piano.

Oh I forgot to mention that the other day I played the A major scale correctly with right fingering- I hadn't been shown this yet by my teacher ( we do new ones each lesson or so). I just found it. It sounded right so I looked it up online and I was correct. I know it isn't much but if I can find scales by ear I must be heading in the right direction.

Tangleweeds - A smartphone app would be most excellent. Going to look into that, thanks for the tip.

The smartphone apps I've tried leave a lot to be desired because they tend to make compromises due to lack of screen real estate.

I would recommend www.sightreadingpractice.com for note recognition training. It includes tons of config options and allows you to specify any key you would like, whether to throw in accidentals, max number of ledger lines and so on.

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"...when you do practice properly, it seems to take no time at all. Just do it right five times or so, and then stop." -- JimF

Spent most of my last lesson talking theory and doing harmonic analysis on the third movement of the Mozart sonata I'm learning. Wow... the time just flew, but my brain was sore from the workout. I'm going back to review http://www.musictheory.net/

Spent most of my last lesson talking theory and doing harmonic analysis on the third movement of the Mozart sonata I'm learning. Wow... the time just flew, but my brain was sore from the workout. I'm going back to review http://www.musictheory.net/

AOTW... picked up a Billy Joel song that I had stopped playing a couple months ago and it is coming back to me... slowly, but steadily. Also discovered that taking a break from another song for a few days did me some good as I was able to come at it fresh and the chord changes seemed to come easier suddenly.

Still having trouble practicing slowly and methodically. I just like to play despite hiccups because I like the song/piece so much and it's fun, but that is a lousy approach for fostering improvement.

I just bought my U3. Not sure when delivery will be, but I now actually own the piano. I am now penniless. I feel a bit sick. I think it's the combination of having been so excited for so long and having just spent so much money.

I just bought my U3. Not sure when delivery will be, but I now actually own the piano. I am now penniless. I feel a bit sick. I think it's the combination of having been so excited for so long and having just spent so much money.

Oh Toastie!!! Don't feel sick --- sure it is nerve-wracking to spend a lot of money ...but try to focus on what a great investment this is... A LIFE investment.Try to re-capture some of that OTT nuttiness you had a few weeks ago!

I can't wait to see pics and hear how delighted you are to have your own lovely U3 safe and sound at home!

Congratulations!!!!

_________________________ XVIII-XXXVISometimes I try to progress faster than I am ready for.SwissMsFollow your teacher's instructions and practice wisely/much, and you'll soon wonder how you ever found it hard. BobPicklePerformance anxiety: make it part of your daily routine and deal with it...Cope! zrtf90

JustJeff - welcome! What a super lesson you had - it sounds like you are off to a flying start! I see you've had some great advice already - check the sticky thread at the top of the forum too there are lots of helpful links (I think it is called "Important information"

Allard -Welcome! it is so satisfying to get a good recording (and I confess, much harder than I ever would have expected!!)

Rockbadger - Welcome! that's a happy story - you must be really thrilled to be back playing!

WinShutten - Welcome! I can repeat myself I think --- being back at the piano has got to be a joyful moment!

EdwardianPiano - that's great you have the feel for what a scale should sound like and figured it out on your own. This bodes well!

MaryBee - that does sound a bit mind-numbing. Useful, but hard on the head!

ATallGuy --- Which Billy Joel are you playing? How satisfying to be making progress with it.

Wow... what a week - so many new participants here, that's exciting! New pianos on the horizon and lots of steps forward happening.

I guess my ATOW is having made a wee bit of progress with managing the metronome and getting to the point where I can actually see where and how it will help me rather than just understanding from an intellectual point that it might be helpful.

_________________________ XVIII-XXXVISometimes I try to progress faster than I am ready for.SwissMsFollow your teacher's instructions and practice wisely/much, and you'll soon wonder how you ever found it hard. BobPicklePerformance anxiety: make it part of your daily routine and deal with it...Cope! zrtf90

I just bought my U3. Not sure when delivery will be, but I now actually own the piano. I am now penniless. I feel a bit sick. I think it's the combination of having been so excited for so long and having just spent so much money.

When is it being delivered? Once it is sat in your house and press those keys I bet you'll get so enamoured you might not think of the money.

I know what it's like being penniless and it has nothing to do with my Piano- it's called long term unemployment.

AOTW... picked up a Billy Joel song that I had stopped playing a couple months ago and it is coming back to me... slowly, but steadily. Also discovered that taking a break from another song for a few days did me some good as I was able to come at it fresh and the chord changes seemed to come easier suddenly.

Still having trouble practicing slowly and methodically. I just like to play despite hiccups because I like the song/piece so much and it's fun, but that is a lousy approach for fostering improvement.

EdwardianPiano - that's great you have the feel for what a scale should sound like and figured it out on your own. This bodes well!

You reckon? I don't know if this is something that anyone can do or whether it means my listening ear is ok!

Quote:

I guess my ATOW is having made a wee bit of progress with managing the metronome and getting to the point where I can actually see where and how it will help me rather than just understanding from an intellectual point that it might be helpful.

I know what you measn casinitaly- I need to keep at metronome use myself.

ATallGuy --- Which Billy Joel are you playing? How satisfying to be making progress with it.

Just The Way You Are... I learned it for my wife's birthday as a surprise, but I just wasn't ready by the big day so I wasn't able to do it. I got it up to so-so performance level and then kept it up for a while, but then stopped because I found out that she really doesn't like the song in the first place.

Since then I found out that she really wants to hear it anyway (my secret got out), so I'm re-learning it.

I'll try to have it ready for ABF PR# 29. I play it nearly an octave lower than written (Billy does it in G AFAIR, I do it in A) because I don't have the vocal range that Billy does -- nor the dynamics, nor the piano chops, nor the ability to write lyrics or music, nor the millions of dollars that go along with having said skills in spades.

I've gotten so used to it this low that jumping up an octave sounds terribly tinny. I hope people like it (I'll mercifully skip the singing for the recital) but also am really looking forward to honest constructive criticism.

Originally Posted By: casinitaly

I guess my ATOW is having made a wee bit of progress with managing the metronome and getting to the point where I can actually see where and how it will help me rather than just understanding from an intellectual point that it might be helpful.

I'll have to get to that point as well. I've tried a couple times and found it to be absolutely intolerable. Maybe I was setting it too fast? Am I correct in surmising that part of the dynamic in making friends with the metronome is also making friends with going at a very deliberate (i.e. slow and steady) pace?

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"...when you do practice properly, it seems to take no time at all. Just do it right five times or so, and then stop." -- JimF

Edwardian Piano...well, honestly, I don't know how easy folks find it to play scales. I drilled on them (on bass clarinet) for years in highschool and so in terms of knowing if I have the right notes, I don't have any difficulty. Of course playing them on the bass clarinet and playing 2 hands on the piano with the correct fingering are two different things. What I was complimenting was the fact that this is new and an accomplishment for YOU something you couldn't or didn't do before but now you can. This is a step in the right direction!

TallGuy, I like that song - I like a number of Billy Joel piece but have not yet played any. I would need UBER-simplified versions !

As for using the metronome - you definitely have to be going slower than you really want to - but not so slow that you have time to think about paying your bills, cutting your toenails and what to make for dinner between notes

It really takes a lot of focus - so I think that it helps build concentration.... I can also really understand that when I like a sound I want to "hang on to it" and not move on to the next sound!

I've also really REALIZED --- (I knew it was true, but didn't quite believe it) that I actually play much better if I don't go as quickly as I think I "should" be going. I have a lot more control and accuracy and so the overall musicality of my pieces sounds better recently, even though I've slowed down overall.

So, yup, slow deliberate, steady... that does seem to be the route to take for the moment. Fast is for the future!

_________________________ XVIII-XXXVISometimes I try to progress faster than I am ready for.SwissMsFollow your teacher's instructions and practice wisely/much, and you'll soon wonder how you ever found it hard. BobPicklePerformance anxiety: make it part of your daily routine and deal with it...Cope! zrtf90

Edwardian Piano...well, honestly, I don't know how easy folks find it to play scales. I drilled on them (on bass clarinet) for years in highschool and so in terms of knowing if I have the right notes, I don't have any difficulty. Of course playing them on the bass clarinet and playing 2 hands on the piano with the correct fingering are two different things. What I was complimenting was the fact that this is new and an accomplishment for YOU something you couldn't or didn't do before but now you can. This is a step in the right direction!

Thanks casinitaly. I can play A major by ear but now I shall try other scales tomorrow and see if I can find them by ear as well.......Do you still play bass clarinet?

Quote:

As for using the metronome - you definitely have to be going slower than you really want to - but not so slow that you have time to think about paying your bills, cutting your toenails and what to make for dinner between notes

I definitely don't want to be thinking about bills when playing piano LOL.

Quote:

I've also really REALIZED --- (I knew it was true, but didn't quite believe it) that I actually play much better if I don't go as quickly as I think I "should" be going. I have a lot more control and accuracy and so the overall musicality of my pieces sounds better recently, even though I've slowed down overall. So, yup, slow deliberate, steady... that does seem to be the route to take for the moment. Fast is for the future!

I have just finished playing Alpine Melody from Alfred's- still going too fast I think. I have trouble slowing down. I will try it with the Metronome tomorrow.

TallGuy, I like that song - I like a number of Billy Joel piece but have not yet played any. I would need UBER-simplified versions !

I don't know about that... I just went back and listened to your submission for #27, and I think you would do just fine with Just The Way You Are.

I only did minor simplifications, for instance there is syncopation (I think that is what it is anyway) where the right hand plays an 1/8 note ahead of the left hand. I just play the left hand chord early so that my hands are in synch and it sounds fine.

I also had to figure out a way to gracefully cut out the sax solos in the middle and at the end -- I just wasn't up for trying to adapt those to the piano. All the sheet music versions I found were horrendously schmaltzy or too simple, so I made my own arrangement.

The song just sounds so good that it sort of plays itself, once you learn it, except for the bridge -- that is really tough for me.

Give it a try!

Edited by aTallGuyNH (11/09/1205:59 PM)

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"...when you do practice properly, it seems to take no time at all. Just do it right five times or so, and then stop." -- JimF

Edwardian Piano - no I don't play bass clarinet anymore, but I do pull out my Bflat Clarinet (the traditional "liquorice stick") once in a while. I play guitar too...though it has been left in the case pretty much full time since piano entered my life!

ATallGuyNH... I couldn't remember what I'd played in the 27th! lol... I had to go back and check! (to be fair, it has been a long day and it is really time for me to go to sleep!)....You've inspired me. I'll give it a try and report back (but not tonight!)

_________________________ XVIII-XXXVISometimes I try to progress faster than I am ready for.SwissMsFollow your teacher's instructions and practice wisely/much, and you'll soon wonder how you ever found it hard. BobPicklePerformance anxiety: make it part of your daily routine and deal with it...Cope! zrtf90

Thanks, casinitaly. This seems like a great community. Who knows, I might ever be able to contribute. Recording was HARD. Next step is to not feel bad about making mistakes with the teacher present. It's just that you know, during practise you did so well...

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David Lanz - Dark HorseYiruma - River Flows In You

I just bought my U3. Not sure when delivery will be, but I now actually own the piano. I am now penniless. I feel a bit sick. I think it's the combination of having been so excited for so long and having just spent so much money.

Oh Toastie!!! Don't feel sick --- sure it is nerve-wracking to spend a lot of money ...but try to focus on what a great investment this is... A LIFE investment.Try to re-capture some of that OTT nuttiness you had a few weeks ago!

I can't wait to see pics and hear how delighted you are to have your own lovely U3 safe and sound at home!

Congratulations!!!!

Thank you, feel better about it today, think I was a bit overwhelmed yesterday!! I am going to visit it in the shop today (who cares if they think I'm nuts, I've handed over the money so I shall go and practice on my piano in their shop!)

EdwardianPIano, they are going to let me know the delivery date once they arrange it with the delivery people, as it has to be on a Saturday so I may have to wait a couple of weeks. This is a bit annoying, but I have waited 28 years so far for this piano, so I guess I can wait a bit longer.

And the other nice thing was that the man in the piano shop said that my playing was really good after only a few months. He said this after I had already paid thousands of pounds so I don't think he was flattering me to buy the piano haha.